Improvement in apparatus for lighting gas by electricity



S. GARDINER, Jr.

Lighting Gas by Electricity.

Patented Feb. 19, 1867b Quinn gram gaunt @ffisc.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING GAS BY ELBGTRIGITY.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL GARDINER, jr., of the city, county, and Stateof New York, have invented a. new and improved Apparatus for LightingGas by Electricity; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the nature, construction, andoperation of the same, sufficient to enable othcrs skilled in the art towhich it appertains to fully'understand and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, which are made part of thisspecification. and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation.

Figure 2 is a top view or plan.

Figure 3 is an elevation.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

The apparatus consists of a series of gas burners,-and a reciprocatingbar provided with spring keys, which are so spaced in reference to thedistance between the burners that they are consecutively brought intoelectric connection therewith, not simultaneously with each burner.Bythis means the electric current from a. small battery is made to lighta'large number of burners consecutively, but with extreme rapidity. Forthe purpose of making the electric connection distinct andinstantaneous, the spring keys are made to rise and pass over platinumpoints upon the burners, which are so placed in relation to the orificestherein that the jet of gas is lighted by the electric spark passingfrom the key to/the tip of the burner.

In the drawings, 'A is the gas pipe, shown supported by a foot, .13,upon the base C. Attached to the pipe are the burners D D D" D,'but fourof which are shown, though the number may be much increased. E E areinsulating rubber brackets, attached to the pipe or any neighboringobject so as to form a support for the bar F, which traverses buck andforth on rollers,f, in slots in the upper portion of the brackets E.Projecting fromtho bar F are the keys H H H H, whose thin portion formsa spring, while underneath at thcend is a prism of metal secured by oneface to the spring piece, and having an edge projecting downward. On thetip of eachburner is aiplatinum point, a, which -projectsupward, so asto engage with its key, H,'as the bar F is moved back and forth by'power applied to the end I), and returned by the force of the spring I,which is attached to the bar F and to the bracket E at-itsrespectiveends. The platinum points on the tips of the burners are placed inproximity to the gas orificesthcrein, so as to light the flowing gaswhen a. spark passes from the key to the platinum point. Although theapparatus is susceptible of being arranged for alarge number of burners,I have thought it suiiicient to describe in reference to four which willafiord a clear understanding of its operation. The burners being placed,say two inches apart,.and itbeing required to light themconsecutivelybya single motion of the her, if the latter have a longitudinal motion ofhalf an inch there will be two and one-eighth inches between the keys HH, two and aquarter inches between keys H H, two and three-eighth inchesbetween keys H? H', so that when the key H is in contact with theplatinum tip'of burner D, the key H would be one-eighth of an inch fromburner D, and the key H" an extra one-eighth or one-quarter inch in therear of its burner, D and so on. Thus, itwill be readily perceived thatthe keys come in contact with their respective burners in succession,and not simultaneously, and the full force of the battery is applied toeach burner in succession. l: have spoken of cne-eighth-of an inchas'tho successive increment of distance, but a sixteenth or athirty-second maybe suflicient; and thus a very lengthened series ofburners may be lighted in a fraction of a second consecutively, forthough the mind may fail to detect the distinctive impulses in theseries, the energy and activity of the electric fluid are adequate tothe demand. The bar F may be supported upon insulators on the level ofthe gas pipe, and the keys bein the form of branches, which reach up tothe burner tips. The bar will take such shape as may be desired tofollow the line of burners, and may be circular to light a ring ofburners; or a series of bars may be moved by a'metallic connection,'andthe power may be derivcd'from the hand, a cord, or mechanical devices,clectric'or othcrwise,.stops being placed on the bar to limit its rangeof motion. One pole of the battery is connected to the gas pipe, and theother to the insulated bar F. It will be well to make the prisms underthe springs of platinum, or to cover them with that metal. The devicemay be used for exploding charges in quick succession. v

Having described my invention, what I claim therein as new, anddesire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Thearrangement upon a bar of a series of keys, so spaced in referenceto the burners as to be consecutively brought intoelectric.connection-therewith by a single impulse, substantially asdescribed.

2. I claim a sliding bar, with an insulating support and furnished'withkeys adapted to a series of gas burners, for the purpose described.

To the above specification of my apparatus for lighting gas byelectricity I have signed my hand this 17th b 1866. of Onto SAMLGARDINER,

Witnesses:

EDWARD H. Kncnn', Guns. D. Slum.

